Jim and Jody Swarbrick of Cedar Falls adopted some 27 children from Asia, South America and the United States beginning in the 1970s. At least a dozen children lived at the house at any one time.

Family friends knew the immensity of the task facing the parents. But none of them fathomed the hidden pattern of sex abuse three of the older children --- adopted from Korea --- perpetrated on some siblings, allegedly over a period of years.

They pleaded guilty to multiple counts of third-degree sexual abuse and were sentenced Monday to probation with lengthy prison sentences held over their heads if they stray.

"I just wish they would have said something way back then. We could have cut this off years ago," Douglas Melcher, an engineer and friend of the Swarbricks who also adopted children from Korea, told the court Monday.

Many who knew the defendants described them as polite and smart people, hard workers with bright futures and no hint they might be a threat to others.

The children did most of the cooking, cleaning and other chores, said Carol Brenden, another family friend. She said there were too many people living in one place.

Public Defender Dean Olson, who represented Channon, said the parents' noble attempt to help people was doomed because there were too many children, many of whom came into the family with other problems, including prior physical and sexual abuse.

The father allegedly walked in on Channon naked on top of another child, she said. Channon merely said he was looking for something, and the father left and closed the door, she said.

After one complaint of abuse, the Department of Human Services worked out a plan where the girls were to have locks on their rooms, Fangman said.

In handing down the punishment, Judge Thomas Bower sentenced them to 10 years in prison for each count and stacked them consecutively. The time behind bars was suspended, and they were placed on five years of probation and ordered to pay fines.

For Kyle and Zachary Swarbrick, who now live in Arizona, that means 30 years in prison apiece if they violate probation. Channon, who was charged with five counts, faces up to 50 years.

All were ordered to undergo sex offender treatment and must register as sex offenders. Zachary Swarbrick is allowed to serve his probation in Arizona.

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